Oil testing device



April 7, 1942. T. l... cAMP on. TESTING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 z 77 f6 'i f6' o o 'HHM l Z5 y 19 sa 2a s u 8] 4 u 77 l I- 70 3T M .a 4d 'Illnl 51 o 35 W E- 35 .W .39 F5 -0 Q- uh@ o I/II/M/ 21, ATTORNEY April?, 1942. T, L. AMP 2,279,159

` v OIL TESTING DEVICE Filed June 13, 1940 4 SheetS-Shee-t 2 2f IHHHHIHI?,

l April 7, 1942.

T. L lcAMP 2,279,159 I oIL TESTING DEVICE l I Filed June 15, 1940 "'Hllii HIHHIIII 011.. TESTING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1940 4 sheets-shet 4 j INVENTOR Patented Apr. 7, 1942 f Unirse! STATES PATENT ,orrlce 2,279,159. ou. TESTING DEVICE Thomas L. Camp, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Permatex Company, Inc.z Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York 'Application June `13, 1940, serial No. 340,304

7 Claims.

the movement of the oil in the film between the A two surfaces as they slide over each other. lm of oil or grease is maintained between the metal surfaces by virtue of its ability to wet metal surfaces. This ability to wet results from the fact that the energy of an oil-metal interface is less than that of an air-metal interface, so that the total energy of two metal surfaces separated by a film of oil is less than that of the same surfaces separated by air. Surface energy relationships are the basis of all capillary attraction phenomena.

The magnitude of this attraction of a metal for any particular oil or grease determines the pressure required to squeeze out the last part of the lm between two surfaces of such metal. Viscosity plays an important part in the rate at which the lm thickness is reduced to its minimum, but not in determining the pressure at which the rupture of the nlm takes place and metal-to-metal contact begins.

In the use of machinery, metal-to-metal contact must be avoided at all costs, otherwise pistons, bearings, or other parts will seize. It is very important, therefore, to determine the boundary characteristics of the lubrication loi1 it f is desired tol use.

Various forms of apparatus have been developed for measuring such characteristics by pressing a non-rotatable block against a lubricated greater or lesser degree the property of red-hardness. Suitable alloys are the high-speed steels of the tungsten-chromium type, the cobalt-tungsten-chromium alloys of the Stellite type, and the sintered tungsten carbide alloys ofthe Carbaloy type. The explanation for ythe superior remetal ring until they begin to seize and observl, ing the pressure required-to bring that about.

Such apparatus has, in general, been clumsy and heavy, in addition to being inaccurate.

One of the principal objects, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a simple, com- Y,

pact, accurate and readily operated machine for determining the boundary characteristics of luricating oils.

One importantfeature of my invention relates to the production of a sharp, well-defined indication of the pressure at which the lubrication boundary is reached. I have found that this desirable vresult can be obtained by making the non-rotatable block of an alloy possessing to a t sults obtained with alloys having a considerable degree of red-hardness is believed toy be as follows:

When a non-rotating block of metal is pressed against a rotating metal ring covered with a film of the oil to be tested, heat is generated. As the pressure'increases the internal friction of the oil film increases and with it, of course, the temperature of the oil film. When the film breaks, i. e. when the lubrication boundary is reached, there is metal-to-metal contact and a sharp increase in friction. there is a sudden, very rapid rise in temperature. This temperature rise is localized at the contacting surfaces as the result of the fact that there is a marked time factor in heat-dissipation. This rapid temperature rise appears to be sulicient to cause surface softening of ordinary hardened steels and even surface fusion in the case `of lowmelting alloys. As a result, there seemsto `be a surface flow of Inetalv which reduces the metalto-metal friction greatly below what it would be without such superficial softening or fusion. This reduction of the metal-to-metal friction cuts down the differential between that friction and the internal friction of the oil just prior to the time lthe film breaks, and4 makes the exact timing of the lm breaking point harder to observe.

It is not ordinarily essential to make the r0- tating ring of an alloy possessing red-hardness, especially Where only a small part of the periphery of such ring is frictionallyengaged at any one time.V In such cases, there is a large olf-on ratio for the ring, permitting cooling of the ring during the off periods suliicient te prevent surface softening to any great extent. On the other hand, the non-rotating block is on all the time the test is being conducted and hence should be of heat-resistant material.

Another outstanding feature of the invention is the provision of means for controlling the pressure so that it can not only be varied readily but also relievedimmediately the instant the oil nlm breaks. 'I'he pressure per unit area at the time of break is the total pressure divided by the area of contact'. Unless the pressure is relieved immediately, the non-rotatable block willl be vAt that instant, therefore,

spring is compressed.

It has been found that to secure accurate rea-dings the spring should be pre-compressed to some extent, so that there is -no lag or back-lash to take up in the operation of the machine.

Where a screw is used to apply the force required to compress the spring severalturnsot the screw are necessary before the compression of the spring can be relieved. During the time required .to turn the screw, an undeterminable amount ofwear'takes'place. According to the present invention, therefore, a manually operated system of links, cranks and levers is used tn cnable the pressure on the spring to Vbe relievedvinstantly. As the pressures required are relatively high, a toggle system of cranks andlevers is employed to progressively increase the lever/age of the operating handle as the spring is compressed further and further.

For a portable machine it is desirable that the necessary manual pressure be exerted by pressing downwards. That means that the operating handle shouldnot have to move further thanA fromla nearly vertical upward position to a nearly-vertical downward position, i. e. less than V18.0?,l and preferably themachine should be designed so that-the maximum effort should come whenthe handle is not far from horizontal.

-With an operating handle having a small arc of movement, the test-block can be very rapidly lifted away from the testf-ring. v InV general, more accurate results are obtained by .using aflat bar for the non-rotatable testblock, instead of a bar having an end shaped to t theV periphery of the test-ring. At the breaking-,point the lm of oil is so thin that, unless the two surfaces have been ground together, like a poppetvalve on-its seat, the chances are vthat the lmvis broken at one or two spots only. How' large a` proportion of Y the surface supposedly in contactis in actual contact is problematical and this uncertainty makesit impossible to in- E terpretV the results observed with any degree of accuracy.l Where, however, a curved indentation isworn on a at test-bar by the rubbing of the-testring against it, it may be assumed that the whole area of that indentation is in contact -with the. test-ring the nmoment after the lm breaks.- Whilestrictly `speaking rthat may not be .true,fdemonstrations have shown that it is suciently near the ktruth to give satisfactory comparative'data'for a series of oils.

fWhere a test-bar and test-ring are used there is at the outset line 4contact only, which soon widens intoaband of appreciable width before real -jm'etal-to-metal contact occurs.- However,

-film breakage or boundary conditions are reached witharelatively small area of contact. This is of4 importance asitenables high pressures per square `inchto be readily obtained'by a simple system of cranks andn levers having a much smaller leverage than-screw operated devices.

Other features `of the invention will be described in connection with the specific lembodiment shown in the drawings.

One suitable form of construction is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, Wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of. the machine; Figure 2 is a top View of the same;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the same; Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the machine; Figure 6 is a section on the line B-B of Figure Figure 7 is a detail view showing the test-ring, test-barV and associated parts;

Figure 8 is 'a top view of the parts shown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure '1;

Figure -10 is a perspective view of the slidable member which carries the test-bar;

Figure-11 is a side elevation of the heavy coil spring which fits inside the member shown in Figure10;'

Figure 12 a perspective view of the pusher block which rests on the top of the spring shown in .Figure 11; and

Figure `13is a perspective vView of the member which forces the parts `shown in Figures 10, 11, andV 12 downwardly to bring the test-bar into contact with the test-ring.

Themachine comprises a base I5 with a pair of legs l.6,at each end. The driving motor l1 is mounted on the' underside of the base l5.

Boltedtothe topof the base is a frame comprising a bottom portion I8, two uprights I9 and 2,0, and a cross connecting piece 2|. In the two uprightsa bearing sleeve 24 is slidably mounted, within which sleeve is rotatably mounted a horizontal shaft 25 by means ofV ball bearings 26. 'I'he purpose of making the sleeve slidable is to enable a relatively broad test-ring to be used more efliciently. With a narrow test-bar only a narrow peripheral strip or band on the testring is scored when metal-to-metal contact occurs. If, after a test has been made, the testring can be moved axially so as to bring a fresh surface underneaththe test-bar, it is not necessary to replace the test-ring more often than every two, three, or more tests.

Means are also'provided, as will be described later, for moving thegtest-bar longitudinally between each testso as to bring a fresh surface into contact with the test-ring before each test.

Surrounding the rear end of the shaft 25 is the hub 21 of'ay belt pulley 28 operatively but slidably connected thereto by a spline 29. This hub 21 is rotatably carried by ball bearings 30 on the inside of a ring 3| bolted to the `rear face of the upright 20. The pulley 28 while free to rotate cannot move axially'and is, therefore, always in the samerplane as the driving pulley 32 on the end of the motor shaft. A belt 33 connects the two pulleys.

The mechanism for moving the test-ring axially to bring a freshsurface beneath the testbarincludes ra bolt 31 extending through Aboth uprights'lgand 20 parallel vto thesleeve 24. This bolt 31 has a hexagonal head 38 on its front end and two collars 39 on either side of the rear upright 20.? The middle portion of this bolt is in threaded engagement with a bracket 40 bolted to' one side of the sleeve 24, as shown in Figure 6. i A s the bolt is freely rotatable in the uprights, but is prevented from moving axially with respect thereto by the collars thereon, it follows that by turning the bolt an axial movementl of the sleeve, and hence ofthe test-ring, is produced.

The machine includes a rotatable member which may be a disk, ring, flanged Wheel, or the like, all of which forms are intended to be included under the term test-ring. I n the form f construction shown, the front end of the shaft 25 is formed with a frusto-conical head- 42 to receive and support a test-ring 43. The ring is held in place by a nut 44. Below and surrounding the lower part of the test-ring and its associated parts is an oil cup 45 to receive a sample of the oil to be tested. This cup is held in place vertically by a slidably mounted pin 46 (Figure 3), the end of which is adapted to enter a hole in the upright I9. A Cotter-pin 41'prevents the pins being accidentally disconnected from the cup. Laterally, the cup is kept in p0- sition by the engagement of the back wall of the cup with the shaft, such wall being cut away semi-circularly to t the end of the shaft behind the head 42. To remove the cup, all that is necessary is to pull the pin 46 out of the hole in the upright I9 and allow the cup to drop.

The test-bar-operating mechanism is mounted above the shaft 25. It comprises a rectangular block 50 (Figure l0) slidably mounted in a correspondingly formed recess in the upper part of the upright I9. Its rear face bears against a slidable member 46 in the rear part of such recess and its front edges bear against two strips l bolted to the front of the upright'.

The block 50 is formed with an axial hole 52 to receive a heavy spring assembly 53 (Figure 1l) and above that a ller'block 54. The spring assembly comprises a heavy spring partially coxnpressed between two disks 55 held together by a centrally arranged bolt member 56, the length of which can be adjusted by a screw 51. The ller block 54 has a central recess to receive the upper end of the bolt member 5S, so that downward pressure on the filler block can depress the upper disk 55 and thereby compress the spring 53. At its upper end the filler block is formed with a slot 66 to receive a forwardly extending lug 6l on the slidable member 42. The latter has a rearwardly extending pin 62 passing through a slot 63 in the back of the recess in the upright i6 to connect the member 49 to suitable operating mechanism.

A threaded stud 65 mounted on the lower part of the block 5U is recessed at its lower side to receive a test block 61 in the form of a bar of high-speed steel. This bar is clamped in the desired longitudinal position by a nut 68 and washer 68 mounted on the threaded stud 66. It will be evident that by loosening the nut 68, the longitudinal position of the test-bar may be adjusted so as to bring a fresh part thereof opposite the top of the test-ring.

To hold the test-bar above the test ring 43, a light spring 69 is provided (Figure 3) pressing upwardly against the bottom of block 50 with sufficient force to overcome the weight of the block 50 and the parts operatively connected thereto.

When the member 49 is moved down, the block 5i) moves therewith, the spring 69 being cornpressed as its tension is so much less than that of the spring 53, until the lower face of the bar 61 contacts the periphery of the ring 43. Further downward movement of the member 49 compresses the spring 53 producing a progressively increasing pressure between the parts 61 and 43. The pressure so produced is directly proportional to the amount the spring 53v is compressed and,

hence, any suitable means for indicating the-Lex tent of such compression will give a measure of the force pressing' the disk 61! againstthe ring 43. One convenient indicator isf shown in` Figure 7. The instrument `comprises a dial10 with a pointer 1i, the angular movement of which is proportional to the linear distance Vaplunger 12 is depressed. The instrument is bolted to the face of the block 56 for movement therewith. To the top of the member 49` is secured a cap piece 13-carrying at its front edge adownwardly extending nger 14'. While this cap piece or nger might be' arranged to Contact directly with the top` ofthe plunger 12, it can also be connected indirectly by a pivoted lever device 65, as shown, to give any desired ratioof movement between the member 49 and the plunger 12.

Various; means may beempl'oyed for giving downward movement to thelrmember 49 to create the desired pressure between the bar 61 and the ring 43. As shown, this means comprises a shaft 15 journalled near one end in the forward part of legs I6 and near the other end in a lever 86and of the relative positions of the var-k ious parts, there is a toggle action so thatthe leverage of the handle-11 with` respect to the pin 62 increases as the handle moves downwardly. rihis enables-large pressures tov be produced by a relatively short operating handle.

In the construction above Adescribed the test-` bar is brought into contact with the test-ring by a single downward movement of the handle through an angle of less` thanl". Further, the handle is not only in front of the test-ring and the pressure-indicator, but also its shaft is below these parts so that the pressure can be readily observed while operating the handle.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for testing the boundary lubrication characteristics of oils, comprising a rotatable member, means for applying a lm of the oil to be tested thereto, a second member formed of an alloy capable of retaining its hardness up to around 300 C., means for rel'easably holding the second member in xed position, and means for pressing the second member against the rotatable member with progressively increasing force.

2. Apparatus for testing the boundary lubrication characteristics of oils, comprising a rotatable member, means for applying a film of the oil to be tested thereto, a second member formed of an alloy having the characteristic of red-hardness, means for releasablyholding the second member in fixed position, and means for pressing the second member against the rotatable member with progressively increasing force.

3. Apparatus for'testing the boundary lubrication characteristics of oils, comprising a horizontal rotatable shaft, a test-ring, means for mounting said ring on said shaft, means for supplying oil to the periphery of said ring, a member above said shaft slidable vertically towards and from said shaft, a test-block, means for securing said block to said member, a second member 'slidable parallel to the first, a heavy coil-spring disposed between the two members, and lever means `for exerting a rapidly releasable downward pressurev on the second member to force said members and intervening heavy spring toward the test-ring to compress the heavyspringto produce4 the desired pressure between the test-block and test-ring.`

4. Apparatus for testing the boundary lubrication characteristics of oils, comprising a horizontal rotatable shaft, a test-ring, means for mounting said ring on the front end of said shaft, means for'supplying oil to the periphery of said ring, a member above said shaft slidable vertically towards and from said shaft, a testblock, means for securing said block to said member, a second rotatable shaft, a handle on such second shaft, connecting ,means between said member and the rear end ofsaid second shaft for converting angular movement of the latter into vertical movementl of said member to bring the-test-block into engagement with the testring and vary fthe pressure therebetween, and a spring disposed under said member to raise said test-block out of contact with the test-ring when pressure is taken off the said handle.

5. Apparatus for' testing the boundary lubrication characteristics of oils, comprising a frame,

a rotatable shaft mounted on said frame, a test--A ring, means for mounting said ring on said shaft, means for supplying oil to the periphery of said ring, a member slidable perpendicularly towards and 4away from said` shaft, atest-block, means for securing said block to said member, a handle pivotally mounted-on said frame for movement in a vertical plane, a second member slidable parallel to the first, a heavy coil spring between the two members, `and connecting means disposed between said second member and said handle for converting angular movement of the latter into linear'movement of said second memtravel toward the test-ring -by a-movement of the handle downward through an angle of leSS than 180, and a spring disposed under the rst member to raise said test-block out of contact with the test-ring when pressure is taken oif said handle.

6. Apparatus for testing the boundary lubricationl characteristics of oils, comprising a horizontal rotatable shaft, a test-ring, means for mounting said shaft-means for supplying oil to the periphery of said ring, a member above said shaft slidable vertically towards and from said shaft, a test-block formed by an alloy hav--` ing the characteristics of red-hardness, means for securing said block to said member, a handle mounted to swing in a vertical plane, and a connecting linkage between said member and said handle for converting angular movement of the latter intovertical movement of said member to bring the test-block rapidly into and out of engagement with the-test-ring and vary the pressure therebetween, said connecting means being -so-constructed that said member is moved its full distance of travel toward the test-ring by a movementl of the handle downward through an angle of less than 180.

ber to bring the test-block'into engagement with the test-*ring'and force it against the latter, such connectingmeans being'constructed so that the second member is moved its full'distance of 7. Apparatus for testing the boundary lubrication characteristics of oils, comprising a horizontal rotatable shaft, a test-ring, means for mounting said ring on said shaft, means for supplying oil to the periphery of said ring, a member above said shaft slidable vertically towards and from said shaft, a test-block formed of an alloy having the characteristics of red-hardness, means for securing said block to said member, a second member slidable parallel to the rst, a heavy coil spring disposed between the two members, and lever means for exerting a rapidly releasable downward pressure on the second member to force said members and intervening heavy spring toward the test-ring to compress the heavy spring to produce the desired pressure between the test-block and test-ring.

THOMAS L. CAMP. 

